The goal of presenting this new symbol is to promote and protect original products from our islands, to position those products on the domestic as well as on the foreign market and to promote Croatian islands in general, stated the Minster of the Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Božidar Kalmeta during the introduction of the new sign „Croatian Island Product“, which took place today in the city of Split.
On that occasion 14 manufacturers received the right to mark 22 of their island products with that new symbol and the minister pointed out that this symbol was meant to be a guarantee for originality and quality of the selected articles as well and for the exclusivity of the one who produces them.
The minister further underlined the fact that another important goal of the whole project was to stimulate the development of ecological products of high quality, adding that every fifth tourist visiting the country was spending his/her holiday on one of Croatia’s 1244 islands.
During the last year, HRK 1.3 billion were invested into Croatian islands and during the last four years the development of those islands was supported 
with the total amount of HRK 5 billion, stated the minister.
He also talked about a whole range of measures created for the enhancement of life conditions on islands which included a numerous new shipping lines, night lines, a better connection between the mainland and the islands, the renovation of shipping fleets for private ship operators, 54 reconstructed ports and 45 newly built objects of social infrastructure on islands.
In the end he mentioned other programs introduced to stimulate the opening of new job opportunities on islands, investments in infrastructure, and other projects aiming to preserve islands and to secure their sustainable development.